Automobile radio antenna



March l, 1942.

A. T. MACE 2,234,737

AUTOMOBILE RADIO ANTENNA.

Filed Aug. ll, 1939 INVENTOR. ARTHUR 7.` MACE ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOBIOBILE RADIOANTENNA a corporation of Ohio Application August 11, 1939, Serial No.289,598

Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to automobile radio antennae, buthas reference more particularly to the means for supporting antennae ofthe telescoping mast type and for in- 5 sulating the same from the bodyof the car.

For the purpose of supporting antennae of the aforesaid type, such as isnow commonly used on automobiles, it is customary to employ a pair ofvertically spaced insulators made of hard rubber or the like throughwhich the lowermost member of the antennae extends, and to utilize boltsor similar fastening elements which support the insulators and at thesame time rmly clamp the antenna member to the insulators.

i5 In order to thus support the insulators as Well as the antennae, itis necessary to exert considerable tension on the bolt or otherfastening means, which, in turn, results in compression cf theinsulators. Moreover, a considerable strain is placed on the insulatorsdue to the fact that they must support the antenna, and these strainsare aggravated when the car is in motion.

Certain materials, such as hard rubber and the like, are capable ofwithstanding stresses and strains of the aforesaid character, but arenot as desirable to use for decorative and ornamental purposes ascertain types of plastics, as for example, Tenite, but which are notcapable of withstanding such stresses and strains as is hard rubber.

A primary object of the present invention accordingly is to providemeans for supporting antennae of the type described in which little orno stress is placed upon the insulators, so that insulators made fromdecorative and colorful plastics, such for example, as Tenite may beemployed for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna supportingstructure in which the antenna is supported independently of theinsulator supporting elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for facilitatingthe attachment of the antenna lead-in elements to the antenna.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part 5o of this specification,and in which like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation, and partly in section,illustrating the mounting of the an- 55 tenna on an automobile body.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional View, taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1; and

Fig, 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I 5 designates the lowermostmember of an antenna of the telescop-ing mast or similar type, suchmember extending through an insulator 2 and into an insulator 3, whichinsulators are secured to the body 4 of the automobile in the following10 manner.

Each insulator has rigidly secured therein a metallic sleeve or thimble5, a portion of which projects from the insulator and is exteriorlythreaded, as at 6, the end of the threaded porl5 tion having a pair ofdiametrically opposed bayonet slots "I therein for a purpose .to bepresently described.

The sleeve 5 is provided intermediate its ends with an outwardlyextending flange 8, the rear 2O surface 9 of which is substantially ushwith the base I0 of the insulator. In securing the insulator to the body4, the threaded end 6 of the sleeve 5 is inserted into a suitableopening pro vided therefor in the body and the flange 8 is 25 drawntightly against such body by means of a nut II secured to the threadedend 6 of the sleeve. In this way the insulator is secured to the body ofthe car without subjecting it to any strains, the metallic sleeve 5bearing all the sup- 30 porting strains.

Disposed within the sleeve 5 at the forward end thereof is a cylindricalmember I2 made of insulating material, such as hard rubber or the like,such member being counterbored for the re- 35 ception of a metallicwasher I3 having a rectangular opening I4 therein. The sides of thisopening provide fulcrums for a pair of clamp members I5 of channelcross-section, the forward portions of which are curved to embrace 40the member I, and the rear extremities of which extend through a washerI6, similar in form to the washer I3, but made of an insulatingmaterial, such as hard rubber.

The terminal I 'I of the lead-in cable I 8 is of 45 such size that whenthe pins I9 of the lead-in cable are entered in the slots 1, suchterminals will force the rear portions of the clamp members I5 apartsuiiciently to cause these members to fulcrum on the washer I3 and thecurved for- 50 ward portions thereof to tightly embrace and support themember I.

All of the stresses resulting from the aforesaid movement of the clampmembers I5 are transmitted to and borne entirely by the metallic sleeve5, and are not in any way transferred to the insulator. Moreover, themember I, being supported almost entirely by the clamp member l5, noneof the vibrations of the antenna are transmitted to the insulators.Since the insulators are thus relieved of all carrying and vibratingstresses, they may be made of materials Which are weaker than materialsheretofore employed for this purpose, but which are more decorative andappealing than the latter materials.

Among such decorative materials may be namedA Tenite, which can be madein a variety of colors.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structureherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination with an automobile body, an insulator, a metallicsleeve supporting said insulator, a nut secured to said sleeve andsecuring the latter and said insulator to said body, an antenna andmeans supported by said sleeve and coacting with said antenna to supportthe latter.

2. In combination with an automobile body, an insulator, a metallicsleeve extending from said insulator, a nut secured to said sleeve andsecuring the latter and said insulator to said body, an antenna, fulcrummeans Within said sleeve, clamp members fulcrumed thereon, said membersbeing responsive to the insertion of the antenna leadin cable terminalthereinto to cause said clamp members to rmly clamp and support saidantenna.

3. In combination with an automobile body, a metallic sleeve, means tosecure said sleeve to said body, said sleeve extending exteriorly ofsaid body, an antenna, means insulating said antenna from said sleeve,clamping members disposed Within said sleeve to support said antenna,and an insulator housing theA exteriorly extending portion of saidmember and said members.

4. In combination with an automobile body having an opening therein, ametallic sleeve having a threaded portion extending through said openingand a flange engaging said body adjacent said opening, a nut securingsaid sleeve to said body, a member formed of insulating materialdisposed within said sleeve, an antenna, and means extending throughsaid insulating member and supported thereby for clamping and supportingsaid antenna.

5. In combination with an automobile body having an opening-therein, ametallic sleeve having a threaded portion extending through said openingand a flange engaging said body adjacent said opening, a nut secured tosaid threaded portion of the sleeve and coacting With said ange tosupport said sleeve on said body, a member formed of insulating materialdisposed within said sleeve, ulcrum means Within said member, anantenna, and a pair of clamp members fulcrumed on said fulcrum means andadapted to rmly clamp and support said an-

